California added 186,807 residents to bring the state’s estimated total population to 39,927,315 people as of Jan. 1, 2019, according to new population estimates and housing data released by the California Department of Finance.
The report contains preliminary January 2019 and revised January 2018 population data for California cities, counties, and the state.
One of the key findings in the report is that California’s 2018 population growth rate of 0.47 percent is the slowest in the state’s history.
This rate is driven by a significant decline in births, down by more than 18,000 over the previous year, as well and data reflecting lower student enrollment. Deaths continued an upward trend seen since 2010 as California’s “baby boomers” continue to age.
Lake County showed a flat growth rate. At the start of 2018, the population was reported at 65,064, and a year later it had only grown by seven people, based on the report.
The city of Clearlake’s population dropped by 1 percent, from 14,975 to 14,828, while the city of Lakeport grew by half a percent, rising from 4,784 to 4,806 residents. The balance of the county grew by 0.3 percent, increasing from 45,305 to 45,437.
Lake’s neighboring counties had the following population change rates: Colusa, 0.2 percent; Glenn, 1.3 percent; Mendocino, -0.1 percent; Napa, - 0.1 percent; Sonoma, -0.4 percent; and Yolo, 0.6 percent.
The report also reflects the dramatic changes caused by the state’s catastrophic wildfires.
The Camp fire in Butte County was the most destructive wildfire in California history, with more than 14,600 housing units destroyed. The fire destroyed almost 90 percent of the housing stock and displaced 83 percent of the population in the town of Paradise, which suffered the loss of 11,371 housing units.
The majority of the displaced persons from the Camp fire relocated to the surrounding cities of Chico and Oroville, each adding more than 20 percent to their total populations.
The impact from the Camp fire led to Chico – with a population of 112,000 – seeing the largest numeric change in the state, adding more than 19,000 persons.
The city of Orland in Glenn County, located about 20 minutes away from Chico, had a 4.2-percent increase in population, also likely an impact of the Camp fire.
With a population of 508,000 persons, Sacramento added over 7,400 persons. San Diego (1,421,000) added 6,200 persons, followed by Irvine (280,000) adding 6,100 persons. Santa Clarita (218,000) rounds out the top five cities by numeric growth with 5,700 new residents due to a large annexation from Los Angeles County.
Another result of the wildland fires is that, throughout the state, more than 23,700 housing units were demolished in 2018, with wildfires heavily influencing a number of areas.
The counties with most housing loss due to fire include Butte (14,600), Shasta (900), Ventura (700), and Lake (300). The city of Malibu in Los Angeles County also lost close to 500 housing units due to wildfire.
In terms of population growth from housing production not related to wildfires, the top five cities include: Lathrop (5.2 percent) in San Joaquin County, San Juan Bautista (4.8 percent) in San Benito County, Dublin (4.4 percent) in Alameda County, Irwindale (4.1 percent) in Los Angeles County, and Beaumont (4.0 percent) in Riverside County.
California's statewide housing growth, as measured by net unit growth in completed housing units for 2018, was 77,000 units. Total housing in California reached 14,235,000 units, a 0.6-percent increase.
Ranked by net housing gains, Los Angeles (16,525), San Diego (4,505), Irvine (3,384), Santa Clarita (2,486) and Sacramento (2,353) added the most housing units in 2018.
Of the 10 largest cities in California, Sacramento had the largest percentage gain in population (1.49 percent, or 7,400) with Bakersfield (1.11 percent, or 4,300) a distant second.
Of the 14,235,000 housing units in California, 9,186,000 are single family and 4,490,000 are multi-family with 560,000 mobile homes. Multi-family housing growth outpaced single family housing by over 1,900 net units (“net” refers to new construction minus demolition), narrowing the difference from previous years but continuing a seven-year trend.
Los Angeles led the state with 12,217 multi-family units, comprising 73.9 percent of their total housing growth, followed by San Diego (3,648 for 81.0 percent), San Francisco (2,277 for 99.5 percent) and Irvine (1,439 for 42.5 percent).
Group quarters account for about 2 percent of the total state population (849,000). This population includes, among others, those living in college dorms (243,000) and in correctional facilities (215,500).
In 2018, the group quarters population grew by just over 200 people or 0.03 percent. The college dormitory population grew the fastest at 3,800 (1.6 percent), the military group quarters population decreased by 2,700 (4.8 percent), local jails decreased by 260 (less than 1 percent) and state prisons decreased by 370 (less than 1 percent).
State prisons are generally located in remote areas; as a result, increases or decreases in this population can account for significant changes in their respective locations.
For example, state prison declines led to population decreases in Calipatria in Imperial County, Chowchilla in Madera County, and Blythe and Norco in Riverside County, while driving population increases in Tehachapi in Kern County, Coalinga in Fresno County, Corcoran in Kings County, Folsom in Sacramento County and Vacaville in Solano County.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control has several dogs waiting for adoption this week.
The following dogs have been cleared to go to new homes.
“Cadbury.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Cadbury’
“Cadbury” is a female Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with a smooth medium-length beige coat.
She is No. 1215.
“Macy.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Macy’
“Macy” is a female Labrador Retriever mix with a smooth short black coat.
She already has been spayed.
She is No. 11.
“Neve.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Neve’
“Neve” is a female terrier puppy with a smooth medium-length white coat.
She is No. 1216.
“Sammy.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Sammy’
Sammy is an American Pit Bull Terrier mix puppy with a short brown and white coat.
He is No. 1890.
“Wynn.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Wynn’
“Wynn” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier with a short brindle coat.
He is No. 969.
Clearlake Animal Control’s shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53, off Airport Road.
Hours of operation area noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The shelter is closed Sundays, Mondays and major holidays.
Call Clearlake Animal Control at 707-994-8251, Extension 1, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions.
Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or at the city’s Web site.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – May is “CalFresh Awareness Month,” a month of public outreach to increase awareness and enrollment in CalFresh, California’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Lake County Social Services recognizes the need to reduce hunger by increasing participation in food assistance benefits, particularly for the elderly, disabled, families and children.
On June 1, more than 3,600 elderly and disabled SSI recipients in Lake County may be newly eligible for CalFresh benefits.
SSI recipients can start pre-applying on May 1, and if eligible would start receiving benefits no earlier than June 1.
Current CalFresh households with an SSI household member do not need to apply, changes will be applied to your case at your next periodic report, or you can call your worker to request changes be applied sooner.
Currently, 11,237 individuals are enrolled in CalFresh in Lake County. With more than 64,000 people residing in Lake County, it is estimated that only about two-thirds of those eligible are receiving CalFresh.
Many households may be unaware that they qualify. For example, a family of four making up to $4,184 per month may be eligible for CalFresh.
The application process is simple and secure, no office visit is required.
After the application is filed, the interview is completed by telephone, and documents are submitted online or by mail.
Most applications are decided within 30 days, sooner if eligible for Expedited Services.
CalFresh recipients choose and purchase their own food from grocers using an EBT card, which works much like an ATM card.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A tank trailer carrying fertilizer that overturned on Saturday required a hazmat cleanup that authorities said lasted several hours.
The crash occurred at approximately 10:42 a.m. Saturday on Butts Canyon Road north of the Lake-Napa County line, according to a report from the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office.
The CHP said a 29-year-old St. Helena man, whose name was not released, was driving a late model Chevy pickup pulling a small tank trailer partially filled with a liquid fertilizer.
While traveling in the northbound lane through a sweeping left curve, the driver abruptly turned his combination of vehicles to the right, causing the towed trailer to overturn and spill most of its chemical contents in the roadway, according to the CHP.
As a result of the chemical spill, the CHP said both lanes of Butts Canyon Road were closed for more than six hours to necessitate cleanup efforts.
Reports from the scene indicated that Lake County Environmental Health was among the agencies responding to the incident.
The CHP said no injuries resulted from the crash, and the driver was wearing his seat belt.
Neither drugs nor alcohol played a role in what led to the wreck, the CHP said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Warmer weather leads to more motorcycles on California roadways and emphasizes the need for all motorists to share the road.
During May, recognized as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, the California Highway Patrol and the California Office of Traffic Safety, or OTS, will work together to promote roadway safety for motorcycles through education and awareness projects.
Motorcyclist deaths occurred 28 times more frequently than fatalities in other vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, reported in a study of 2016 crash data.
“Safe riding practices and cooperation by all users will help reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our roadways,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said. “It is especially important for motorists to understand the safety challenges that motorcyclists face because they are often difficult to see.”
“We can all do our part to share the road and look out for one another,” OTS Director Rhonda Craft said. “We are all going places. By keeping our distance, watching our speed and checking blind spots before changing lanes, motorcycles and cars are able to arrive to their destinations safely.”
In 2018, California saw almost 17,000 collisions involving motorcycles, preliminary data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, or SWITRS, shows, with 460 victims killed.
Preliminary 2017 SWITRS data shows more than 17,000 collisions involving motorcycles, with 577 victims killed in California. The California Department of Motor Vehicles reports more than 900,000 registered motorcycles in the state and more than 1.4 million licensed riders.
One way the CHP and OTS address the safety challenge is with the Get Educated and Ride Safe, or GEARS, program, funded by a $625,000 grant from OTS through NHTSA. All eight CHP Divisions will hold outreach events to promote motorcycle safety during May under the GEARS grant.
As part of its continual motorcycle safety program, the CHP strongly encourages all riders, new and experienced, to enroll in the California Motorcyclist Safety Program, or CMSP.
The CMSP has 107 training sites throughout the state and trains approximately 55,000 motorcyclists per year. For more information or to find a training site near you, visit www.californiamotorcyclist.com.
“Driving a car and riding a motorcycle require different skills and knowledge. The training provided through CMSP makes the journey safer,” said Commissioner Stanley.
Riders can help protect themselves by always using turn signals, avoiding riding in a vehicle’s blind spot, following the rules of the road, and always riding sober.
Wearing an approved U.S. Department of Transportation compliant motorcycle safety helmet and proper protective gear can mean the difference between life and death.
Motorists can also do their part by sharing the road. The majority of multi-vehicle motorcycle collisions are caused when other drivers simply did not see the motorcyclist.
Look twice for motorcyclists and leave plenty of space between your vehicle and the rider.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Beginning on Wednesday, May 1, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, will make residential burn permits available online for residents living within the state responsibility area of Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Solano, Yolo and Colusa counties.
Cal Fire burn permits are required every year after May 1 to conduct open burning in the State Responsibility Area.
A declared Cal Fire burn suspension voids the permit until conditions are such that the burn suspension can be lifted.
The Cal Fire permit is required in addition to an air quality permit and any local fire agency permit. For more information contact your local Cal Fire station or your local fire department.
The online application provides a convenient alternative to obtaining a Cal Fire permit for residents within these counties.
Applicants will access the Web site at https://burnpermit.fire.ca.gov/ and watch the mandatory video which reviews burning requirements and safety tips, fill in the required fields, submit the form and a dooryard burn permit will be created. The applicant must then print the permit.
Permits are valid for the calendar year in which they are issued and must be reissued annually on or after January 1st of each year. Contact your local fire department or Cal Fire to determine what permit requirements or burning restrictions apply in your area and always call or check the link listed on your air quality management district permit to ensure burn day status prior to igniting a fire.
Residents must obtain all required permits from their local air quality management district. In Lake County, contact the Lake County Air Quality Management District at 707-263-3121.
For larger burn projects, a different Cal Fire burn permit is required and shall be obtained from Cal Fire. This type of burn permit is not available online and will require a Cal Fire inspection before a permit will be issued.
Residents are urged to take precautions while burning outdoors to prevent sparking a wildfire. A leading cause of wildfires this time of year is from escaped landscape debris burning.
Anyone who has an escaped debris burn and was not burning under the proper conditions can be criminally or civilly held responsible.
Ensure that piles from landscape debris are no larger than 4 feet in diameter, have a 10-foot clearance down to bare mineral soil around the burn pile and that a responsible adult is in attendance at all times with a water source and a shovel.
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